Improvement in elevators



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

REEDY.

IUnprovament in Elevators.

Patented July 30,v 1872.

2 Sheets-:Sheet 2. J. REEDY.

Improvement in Elevators.

No. 130,073, PatentedJuIy3o,1a72.

WMM/MAM UNITED STATES JAMES REEDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPRVEMENT IN ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,073, dated July 30, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Hoisting-Machines, by JAMES REEDY, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois.

The iirst part of my invention relates to the combination and arrangement, in a hoisting-machine, of drums upon and with the supporting and revolving shaft, and ropes or cables running over the drums, and attached to the platform in such a manner as to raise and lower the platform; the object of this part of my invention being to secure greater durability and safety in working the machine. The second part of my invention relates to the combination and arrangement of a brake-pulley, to which is secured a pinion or gear-wheel with another geared wheel; the object of this part of my invention being to control the machine in all positions-viz., in the fast, slow, or counterpoise movement, or in its transit from one to the other. The third part of my invention relates to a combination and arrangement of a notched and weighted lever with another lever, clasping the shaft of the driving-wheel, and provided with an adjustable clutch so constructed as to couple with the gear-wheels on either side at will or be held midway between said wheels; the o bject of this part of my invention being to regulate the rapidity of movement and the counterpoise of the platform and weights at will. The fourth part of my invention relates to the combination and arrangement of devices on the standard and in connectionwith the brake-lever line, the object of this part of my invention being to arrest the upward movement of the platform and prevent a collision of the platform and machinery. Y

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the center of the machine. Fig. 2 represents a section through the clutch and clutch-lever, and an elevation of the brake-wheel, strap, lever, and pawl. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent detached views and plan of my self-operating rope-lock. Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section through the center of gear-wheels, hoisting-drums, and ily-wheel. Fig. 7 represents a horizontal section through the frame and hoisting-platform. Fig. Sis a side view of the fulcrum-hub of the brakelever, showing its connection with the brakeband.

The whole machine is mounted in a wooden frame composed of a rectangular frame, A, which, at its four corners, supports four vertical posts, Al, and which again are held on top by a rectangular frame, A2. A central post on each side, marked A3, forms a guide for the hoisting-platform, which, on its inner side, isprovided with a ratchet-bar for the purpose of preventing accidents by the breaking of the hoisting-ropes, the operating-pawl for said ratchet being arranged in the ordinary manner. lNext is a rectangular hoistingplatform, B, made in the usual way, with two standards, B1, and a top cross-beam, B2, and secured by braces B3. Each standard has two iron guide-pieces bolted to it at proper distance, which fit the sides of the ratchet-bar on uprights A3, thus giving the platform free play up and down, yet holding it firmly perpendicular. Said platform B is suspended by two ropes or cables, D, each secured to and in line with the standard B1. Said ropes or cables D are wound around drums E and E' once and a half or more times, as may be necessary, to give suiicient friction on the face of the drum, while the opposite ends of the ropes or cables D are secured to counterpoiseweights F and F. This is done to balance the weight of the hoisting-platform, and to hold the ropes or cables taut around the drums E and Ef, which will prevent the slipping of said ropes or cables. The weights F and F move on upright guide-timbers. The drums E and E are of equal size, and their faces are grooved spirally right and left. They are both mounted on an iron or steel shaft, H, which turns in bearings at its extreme ends. In and at about the center of said shaft H a gear, K, and a gear, I, are mounted, which gear into corresponding gear-wheels L and M, mounted upon a shaft, N, which sets at right angles to shaft H. Shafts H and N are in the same plane with each other. Gear wheel or pinion M is connected to aV brake-pulley, M. L and M, run loose upon shaftN and are made to turn with the shaft-either one or the other--by means of a clutch, O,v placed between both gear-wheels, said clutch being connected with strap N by feather-keys. This double set of gear-wheels I and L andK and M answers the purpose of changing the speed and power for hoisting, so that when the clutch O is Both of these gear-wheels, t

coupled to gear-wheel L the hoistin g-druins will turn fast, and when the clutch O is coupled to gear-wheel M the hoistin g-drums will turn slow, but will lift more weight; and when the clutch 0 stands midway between both wheels L and M neither wheel will be turned by the action ot' the driving-wheel, a more direct'counterpoise movement between the weight and the platform being the result. Said clutch O is rceiprocated by lever P, which oscillates on fnlcrnm P1, and which, by means of a counterweight, P2, presses said clutch O toward gearwheel M. To the uppermost end of said lever is attached a line, which is so arranged by sheaves or pulleys that it passes from top to bottom of the hatchway and is always in reach of the operator. This line pulls against the counter-weight P2 and presses said clutch O toward gear-wheel L. The upper end of said lever P is held in position by a horizontal lever, Q, which turns on fulcrum q, is operated by a line secured to end q1, and more than counterbalanced by weight q2. This lever has three notches of corresponding size with a small lug on lever P. Said notches are at such distance from each other that they will hold said clutch 0, by means of lever P, in either one of its three positions; The line which fastens to end q1 of lever Q reaches also from top tobottom of the hatch way, parallel with and close by the line which operates the lever P, so that they can be handled, both at the same time, by one operator, and so that, when he has pulled the line of lever Q with one hand and has thus relieved the lever P, he can, with his oth er hand, adjust the position of the lever P, and thus, by letting loose again the line from q1, the weight q2 will lift the end q1 of the lever Q, and thus lock said leverP in either respective position. As explained before, the brake-pulley M is connected to the pinion M. Said pulley M' is surrounded by a metal strap, R, which can be tightened or loosened by means of a cam, S, to which both ends of said metal strap R are fastened, said cam being secured to the center of a lever, T, the fulcrum being in about the center of said cam. Said strap It is constructed of one undivided length of metal and raised from the pulley M', on the opposite side from cam S, by being connected to a projecting stud. The office of this stud is to prevent the striking of the strap R on the pulley M' when said strap R is released from pulley M'. Said strap R is secured at both ends to cam S, as shown in Fig. 8. At the end Tl of said lever a weight is attached to overbalance the opposite end of lever T, thus creating a continuous tendency for relieving the brake or loosening the strap. The end T2 of said lever is notched in ratchet form, and a pawl, U, being more than balanced by a weight, U', is made to fit said notches. From the notched end of lever T a line, X, passes downto the bottom of the hatchway, and also from pawl U a like line. Both lines are parallel and close to each other, so that one operator can handle both lines, one in each hand, at the same time. By pulling the line connected to lever T pawl U will be released and lifted out ofthe notches, and by this means the brake-pulley M' will be relieved of strap Y R. If the bra-ke is to be used the line of lever T is pulled downward, thus tightenin g the strap R around pulley M', and then, by pulling the line of pawl U, said pawl catches in one ofthe notches of lever T; and when the line of lever T is released the lever is thus locked in its position and prevented from releasing the brake. V is a grooved drivin g-wheel secured upon the shaft N and equipped with an endless rope designed to reach to near the bottom of the hatchway.

In Figs. 3, 4c, and 5 detached views of a cam-lock, operating on line X, are shown, which is to prevent the platform from hoisting above a certain given position. This is done by passing the line X of the brake-lever T around a sheave, staple, or slot at the bottom of the hatchway, and then returning said line again upward to the top. Said return line passes through on one end of an oblong hole or bracket, a, which is bolted to one of the standards B1 of platform B. In said slot or oblong hole also works a latch, which,if pressed down, will tighten the line against the end of the slot, and will thus take a rm hold. Said latch is held in an inclined position by a rectangular balance-weight, b', thus holding said latch open,and allowing theline to pass through' said slot freely. Said bracket a may be used without the latch b. At different heights of the hatchway, and at such positions as that this locking device will vcome into operation when the platform B is level with the floor, angular pieces c are suspended to one of the uprights A3. Said angular pieces c swing on a bolt at c2. The arm c is held in a horizontal position by a weight and arm, c1. Either one of these angular pieces c is arranged so that it can be turned back and out of reach from piece a. This operation of these instrumentalities is as follows: When the platform has lifted or has been hoisted to its required height, the arm c will strike the latch b, and will compress said latch against the line, thus locking the line, which will cause the platform, by still rising, to pull the brake-lever T downward and arrest the upward movement of the platform, and prevent a collision of the platform with the machinery.

I have here shown the machine constructed with bevel and miter gear-wheels; but it is evident that it may as well be arranged with spur-gearing.

One ofthe advantages of my machine is that the brake-pulley M', being secured to pinion M, which is always in gear with the large bevelwheel K, controls the action of the machine in all positions whatever-viz.,in the fast, slow, or counterpoise movement, or in its transit from oneto the othermovement--therebycontrollin g the machine independent of the agency of the clutch. Another advantage in my machine is the use of the spirally-grooved drums and ropes or cables on the shaftsupporting and operating the platform, whereby greater durability andsafety, and less chafing Wear on ropes or cables, in Workingthe machine, are attained overmachines constructed with a simple windlass or one with sheaves for holding the rope.

Having thus described the various parts of the said hoisting-machine and given the modes of operation of the several parts, what I claim as my invention in said machine is- 1. The combination of two-spirally grooved drums, as described, upon the same revolving shaft, with the ropes or cables embracing said drums, and attached to and supporting the platform, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2, The combination and arrangement of the gear K and gear I on shaft H with the gearwheels L and M, mounted upon the shaft N, With the clutch O located between said gearwheels, the whole arranged and operating in connection with the brake-pulley M to control and regulate the speed of movement of the platform, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement of the notched and Weighted lever Q, With the Weigh ted lever l? cla-sping the shaft ofthe drivingwheel, and provided with an adjustable clutch, constructed so as to couple with gear-Wheels on each side, or be held midway, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

4:. The combination and arrangement of the locking devices, bracket, and angular pieces upon the standard with the brake-lever line, extended and secured substantially as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

5. The construction and arrangement of the undivided strap R and its connection with the lever 'l at cam S, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

JAMES REEDY.

Witnesses:

JNO. H. WniPPLE, FREDERICK F. GOODWIN. 

